University of South Carolina Aiken Yearbooks
The University of South Carolina Aiken’s yearbooks are an annual student publication that reflect the campus’s evolution from a two-year University of South Carolina Campus Center to its independence as a four-year regional campus in the University of South Carolina system. The 1962 University of South Carolina Garnet & Black was the first yearbook including U of SC Aiken students (covering the 1961-1962 academic year). Beginning in 1963, a separate edition of the Garnet & Black was published and focused solely on the campus centers (the early name for the “branch” campuses). In 1966, the editions were rebranded the regional edition of the Garnet & Black and this publication ceased in 1968. In 1969, Aiken and the other regional campuses began to publish their own yearbooks. The U of SC Aiken published their first yearbook entitled The Rebel in 1969 and 1970. The yearbook then changed the name to the Pacer in 1971 and published until 1972. No yearbooks were published between 1973 and 1985. In 1986, publication of the yearbooks began again under the Pacer name through 1990, and was renamed Unbridled for the 1991 and 1992 yearbooks.
The digital collection of U of SC Aiken yearbooks reflects the holdings of the University Archives and our University Development Office. They are published online for the first time in celebration of the university's 60th Anniversary in 2021.
Some materials may contain offensive content.
The digitized U of SC Aiken yearbooks appear here as originally published. As with much historical material, these yearbooks contain some material that we – archivists, historians, university leaders, and the U of SC Aiken community as a whole – recognize as offensive and that do not represent our current university values of equality, diversity, and inclusion. Users are advised that the first two independent U of SC Aiken yearbooks, published in 1969 and 1970, contain offensive and racist language and imagery that reflected ignorant and malicious attitudes, promoted white supremacy, and that were incompatible with building a diverse, inclusive university community.
The offensive content in the 1969 and 1970 yearbooks includes one “rebel” or Confederate battle flag; a photograph in which students appear to be using the Nazi salute; a photograph of a student dressed as a Confederate soldier; and four images of the then-campus mascot, a Confederate soldier with the rebel flag, including on the cover of the 1970 yearbook. In these years, the U of SC Aiken’s sports teams were called the Rebels, the student paper was called the Rebelaire, and the 1970 yearbook was called The Rebel. As a result, there are also numerous mentions of the Rebels and the Rebelaire in yearbooks from 1970 and before.
Yearbooks are primary sources that allow us to research and better understand the history of U of SC Aiken. Omitting the yearbooks that contain offensive language and images would go against archival ethical standards that seek to ensure that archival records are authentic and unaltered. However, researching and understanding are not the same as sympathizing with, condoning, or celebrating. These yearbooks document a specific time and place. We believe that it is important to acknowledge the historic attitudes on our campus in order to move forward with a greater appreciation of what previous generations of U of SC Aiken students overcame, and a firm, historically informed commitment to the values of diversity and inclusion that guide our university in 2021.
Note: Linked to Francis Marion University's digital copies of the yearbooks (1963-1968) and the University of South Carolina's digital copy of 1962. Links are external.